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Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009

Suspect shot after shooting Houston deputy in struggle

CENTERVILLE — A Houston County sheriff’s deputy was shot in the hand Friday during a scuffle with a suspect, who was then shot by police, authorities said.

Deputy Deryk Collins, 24, who’s been with the sheriff’s office about three years, was taken to Houston Medical Center after he was shot in the finger, said Sheriff Cullen Talton. The bullet took a “hunk out of his finger,” the sheriff said.

The suspect was identified as Ryan Cornelius Rumph, 18, of Marshallville, said Centerville Public Safety Director Anthony B. Cooper. Rumph was shot once in the side, with the bullet traveling into the shoulder area, Cooper said.

Rumph was taken to The Medical Center of Central Georgia where he was expected to remain overnight before being transported to the Houston County jail today, Cooper said. Charges are not expected until after Rumph is released from the hospital.

Initial reports were that a Centerville police officer shot Rumph, but it was not clear late Friday whether he was shot by the Centerville officer or Collins, said Craig Rotter, assistant special agent in charge of the GBI’s office in Perry. The GBI was asked to take over the investigation.

Another officer, from Centerville, was also injured but not shot, Rotter said.

According to Rotter, that officer had earlier arrested a man for shoplifting at The Galleria in Centerville. The man had initially been taken into custody by a Sears security officer, Cooper said.

The officer was taking the suspect to the police station on North Houston Lake Road when the suspect allegedly attacked him, breaking away and fleeing on foot through the nearby residential area, Rotter said.

Collins, responding to a Centerville police call for assistance, met up with the suspect in the backyard of a residence on Miller Court, Rotter said. A struggle ensued, the suspect attempted to get the officer’s gun, the gun discharged and the officer was wounded, Rotter said.

The suspect was next shot by police. Talton and Cooper initially reported the suspect was shot by a Centerville police officer. However, the preliminary GBI investigation found that the suspect was fired upon by both the Centerville officer and the sheriff’s deputy, Rotter said.

Talton noted, “The only way we’ll be able to definitely find out is when (the surgeon) removes the bullet.” The two agencies use different caliber bullets, Talton said. However, there is a chance that health officials may determine not to remove the bullet, Rotter said.

The Centerville officer who first struggled with the suspect was not the same officer who later fired upon the suspect, Rotter said.

Also, after the suspect was shot, he broke into the home of an elderly couple on Miller Court, Rotter said.

The wife called 911. As the suspect fled the home, he was taken into custody by other law enforcement officers who had arrived on scene, Rotter said.

The shooting happened about 1 p.m., Cooper said.

Collins will be off for a few days to recuperate, Talton said.

The two Centerville police officers were placed on paid administrative leave. The officers’ names were not immediately released.

According to Cooper, Rumph was charged with burglary and aggravated assault in April 2008, criminal trespass in November 2008 and aggravated stalking and criminal trespass in February 2009. Cooper said he believed all the charges were brought in Peach County.

He did not know the disposition of those charges.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.